The Real Elle Woods reports from Day 1 of Coast's Best Dressed Lady Competition at the Punchestown Racing Festival!
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The first day of the Punchestown Racing Festival got off to a flying start today as thousands of eager racegoers and fashionable ladies spilled into the racecourse. Competition was fierce on the track, but even more so between the ladies vying for the crown of 'Fashion On The Field: Coast's Best Dressed Lady'. The fantastic prize for the overall winner on Friday is an amazing jet-set international shopping spree to three Coast stores around the world - London, Madrid and New York - for the winner and a friend.
Today's winner Emer Nash from Limerick was the first of the week, and she received an impressive EUR1,000 voucher to spend at Coast with a personal style session, as well as a fabulous goody bag containing a gift from Coast plus a bottle of the most fashionable and elegant Champagne around - CHAMPAGNE BOLLINGER. Each of today's 10 finalists also received a gorgeous goody bag from Coast and BOLLINGER.
Emer, the deserving winner of Coast's Best Dressed Lady competition on the opening day of the races, sported a bright pink Orla Kiely coat and dress from Platform Boutique in Newcastle West Co. Limerick, teamed with a current season Coast clutch bag and Coast bracelet. Emer wore gloves from Penneys that added a unique twist to her look, and her headpiece was from Aristohats. Emer, 31, works in Finance and attended today's races with her uncle.
Today the judges were particularly looking out for ladies wearing racing attire from Coast - with their own stylish stamp on their looks, showcasing their interpretation of Coast's key Spring Summer Collection, with a unique look.
The Opening Day judges for Coast's Best Dressed Lady competition know all there is to know about fashion - Top Model Agent Andrea Roche, along with one of Ireland's top models Roz Purcell and TV Presenter Pamela Flood. They had the difficult task of selecting just one winner from hundreds of stylish attendees who arrived dressed to impress today.
Judge Andrea Roche commented 'We were looking for someone who is inventive with their wardrobe, and who has demonstrated that mixing high street and design works really well. Emer is fabulous winner, her look was so eye catching, she really stud out from the crowd. We loved that she subtly incorporated Coast into her look too, in a stylish way.'
Pamela Flood commented 'We had a terrific day judging the style this afternoon in the sunshine, we saw lots of deserving finalists and were really impressed. Emer clinched it for us with her weather-appropriate look that was still elegant and stylish.'
Roz Purcell said 'I loved the colour of Emer's coat, and she had styled it so well with the gloves, clutch bag and head piece. I just loved her style, but there really were hundreds of ladies to choose from today, it was a really fun day out!'
Today, the glamorous judges were looking for individual style, glamour and originality whilst still being appropriately dressed for the event. They were also looking for someone who is inventive with their wardrobe, and who has demonstrated that winning looks don't have to break the bank, that high street can be worn at Ladies Day.
There were plenty of familiar faces in the crowds today; leading the spectators was President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, Dublin Wives' star Lisa Murphy and celebrity solicitor Gerald Keane, hurling legend Ger Loughnan, Boxing Legend and Olympic Gold Medallist Michael Carruth, and RTE's Marty Morrissey. Other attendees included Marietta Doran and Tracy Pigott from RTE, jockeys Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty, Davy Russell, Paul Carberry and Kate Harrington and Katie Walshe who were all riding this afternoon.
Liam Holton, Marketing Director at Punchestown, commented, "Today was a wonderful start to the week with a very strong attendance for the first day and a wonderful atmosphere to boot. The fashion element of the Festival is key with 49% of our attendance being ladies. It is an ideal event to dress up for".
Tomorrow will see TV3's Xposé presenter Aisling O'Loughlin teaming up with former Xposé colleague Lorraine Keane to judge Coast's Best Dressed Lady.
On Thursday, Fashion Editor of the Irish Independent Bairbre Power will be judging the style stakes along with TV3's Ireland AM presenter Sinéad Desmond and TV personality Jenny Buckley will also be looking out for winning style. Friday's final will be judged by Coast Managing Director Margaret McDonald, Chairman of Aurora Fashions Ireland Ian Galvin and Celebrity Stylist Lisa Fitzpatrick. Joining the judges on Friday will be the highly anticipated celebrity judge X-Factor's Louis Walsh!
Tomorrow promises to be another big day at Punchestown with the Tote.com Gold Cup being the main event at 5.30pm and I for one can't wait to see what fabulous outfits will be on display at the event!
Don't forget to check out tomorrow's blog post and my posts throughout the week to see the stylish finalists and overall winner of Coast's Best Dressed Lady Competition!
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